Three face obscenity charges

Three people were arrested Friday after an investigation into alleged “sexting,” according to the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office.

Sexting refers to sending explicit images or video over the phone.

Ezra Dejesus Brent, 17, of Deer Run Trail, Burlington, was charged with preparing obscenity for dissemination, resisting and obstructing an investigation, and felony assault on a law enforcement officer. He was held under a $30,000 bond.

Jordan Tyler Pickard, 20, of McAden Street, Graham, and a 16-year-old girl, of Elon, each were charged with preparing obscenity for dissemination. Pickard was held under a $1,000 bond, and the girl was released to the custody of a parent.

According to the sheriff’s office, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force began an investigation into the alleged sexting after investigators found obscene images of the girl on Brent’s phone.

Brent was first arrested March 12 after allegedly burglarizing a home and attempting to elude deputies during a chase. He is accused also of assaulting an officer during the ICAC investigation.

Subsequently, Pickard and the girl were charged after investigators recovered an obscene video of the two on the girl’s cellphone.

Randy Jones, public information officer for the sheriff’s office, said charges for disseminating the photos — or the “sexting” portion of the crime — weren’t actually filed on any of the suspects. They were charged only with having taken the obscene photos and video.